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A Freedom Salute was held Sunday morning to welcome the Carlisle National Guard Unit, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Unit, back to its home station.

Nearly 180 soldiers were honored for their service to the nation during a ceremony at the Nicholas County High School’s Football Field during the Freedom Salute.

Members of two families were also honored for the supreme sacrifice of their loved one during the unit’s deployment.

Staff Sgt. Delmar White, 37, of Lexington, and Private First Class Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Vine Grove, were killed in two separate instances inside Iraq during the first week of September last year.

White was killed instantly September 2nd when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on a convoy security mission near Baghdad.

Phillips was killed Sept. 10 when an Iraqi vehicle swerved at the vehicle he was in, causing the vehicle to take evasive action, during which Phillips was killed as a result of the vehicle rolling over.

Both soldiers were married.

Michelle White, widow of Staff Sgt.. White, attended the Freedom Salute as did Mark and Maureen Wilcox, the parents of Phillips’ young widow, Ashley Marie Phillips.

Michelle White chose not to speak, but appeared comforted by the many hugs and expressions of condolences extended to her by the members of the unit and others present.

Maureen Wilcox spoke of her son-in-law’s devotion to his family and unit.

He had called home ten minutes before leaving on his last mission.

“He loved you guys a lot,” Mrs. Wilcox said. “It gives us closure to see the soldiers that Sammie was serving with.”

According to Nicholas County soldiers that served with White and Phillips, both soldiers were extremely popular and professional

Sergeant First Class Rodney Mitchell worked closely with White in the months and weeks leading up to his fatal mission.

“Delmar had an outgoing personality and he would do anything to help any of the younger soldiers,” Mitchell told The Mercury Friday. “He was very easy to get along with and he loved playing Texas Hold ‘em and he was good at it too.”

Mitchell and his wife Melissa have three children, and Mitchell said the loss of Staff Sgt. Delmar White was very hard on all of the soldiers, particularly the ones who worked closely with him.

“I was on a different mission when I heard about what happened,” Mitchell said. “When you lose someone that close… Well, he had kids and I had kids and I just started wondering what I had gotten myself into, but through the strength of the other soldiers we were able to pull together and continue to get through the missions.”

Mitchell, like many members of the unit wore a simple, yet poignant red, white and blue, bracelet around his wrist with the name of Delmar White.

“Delmar’s wife helped make these,” he said as he rubbed the small bracelet. “I promised myself I’d wear it. Some of the higher-ranking officers from other units didn’t like me wearing it because it wasn’t part of the uniform. I caught some heat for it but I didn’t take it off, and I won’t ever take it off.”

According to Lt. Colonel Ron Turner, Chief of Staff of the Kentucky National Guard, who spoke during the Freedom Salute, B Battery soldiers left the safety of their bases 1052 while executing necessary convoy security and force security missions.

“These are the finest soldiers in the Army,” he said while praising the efforts of all of the soldiers and expressing his remorse over the loss of White and Phillips.

“We won’t ever forget them,” he said.

Others spoke of their two fallen comrades.

“Sgt. White was a good man. A real good man,” said Sgt. James Rawlings “Phillips was a real good soldier.”

“Sammie Phillips got along real well with everyone and everyone liked him,” said Sgt. Henry Ethington. “Sammie had his future planned out. He was going to go home to his wife and raise a family and make something of his life. He was always smiling and was like a brother to everyone. He would always help everyone keep their spirits up. Sgt. White was an ex Marine and he knew a lot about everything and helped everyone. He loved playing poker and both soldiers are really missed in the unit.”

Sgt. James Perkins said he would miss Sgt. White and Pfc. Phillips and spoke of the intensity of the loss of both soldiers.

“Sgt. White was just a real good all around guy… Sammie was a great kid who had a lot of heart. It was devastating, you have to remember, that was pretty early in the game. We had just arrived and everything was happening. We tried to stay strong and we had a lot of support from local communities and churches. That was a big help.”

Another soldier, Sgt. Parrish, received injuries to his back during the same incident in which Phillips was killed.

Specialists Netherton and Florence were wounded during the explosion that claimed SSG White’s life.

Members of the unit were awarded a total of six Purple Hearts, for wounds during combat action, according to Lt. Col. Turner. Members of the Unit also received 14 Bronze Stars for valor and courage.

Nicholas County Judge-Executive Larry Tincher spoke at the ceremony expressing his sincere praise for all members of the unit.

“It is because of soldiers like you that we enjoy our freedoms,” he said.

Tincher and his wife brought yellow roses for each soldier.

Rick Johnson, an officer with the Flemingsburg American Legion Post 1834 also made a presentation to Capt. Mattingly and Tincher.

Ten Nicholas Countians were among those in the unit with Fleming County having seven to serve.

Alicia Hughes, wife of Platoon Sergeant Rob Hughes, and local attorney Brian Cannup received applause and were honored for their work in support of the soldiers.

Hughes helped keep the Family Readiness organization busy and assisted families of soldiers who were deployed. Cannup assisted families with legal issues and documents while deployed.

First Sgt. Harold Davis received a standing ovation when he was awarded a meritorious Service Medal for courage and professionalism.

Captain Steve Mattingly, 35, a father of four children and the commander of Battery B, spoke Friday to The Mercury about the soldiers under his command.

“Staff Sgt. White was an outstanding non-commissioned officer and Sammie Phillips was as good a soldier and person as you could ever meet,” he said. “When we arrived in August there were approximately 4,000 Iraqi attacks each month. In February the number had gradually declined to about 800 a month. The last three weeks we were in country we hardly got hit at all, but when we first arrived it was pretty rare to even go three days without getting hit.”

Mattingly, like the other leaders of Battery B, expressed their praise to the families of the soldiers.

“I had 180 people to support me every day. Few people knew what the individual family members of the soldiers were going through. They had the toughest mission of all. Their mission was tougher than ours was.”

Captain Mattingly, like the other soldiers who spoke to The Mercury, expressed gratitude for the support of the folks back home who prayed for them and sent them items in the mail.

“I enjoy being back home,” Captain Mattingly said with a smile. “I enjoy being in my comfort zone on the couch watching my kids tear the house apart.”

Sgt. Rodney Trussell, 25, was wounded in April when an explosive device was thrown at the vehicle he was driving while on a mission. He also expressed his sorrow at the loss of White and Phillips and said he was glad to be home with family and friends.

“I enjoy every day,” he said. “I enjoy my freedom.”